PUPILS make good progress in developing personal and social skills — the verdict of an Ofsted inspector following a recent visit to Bow Community Primary School.

The school was rated as having satisfactory effectiveness in public, social and health education, following the recent Ofsted subject survery inspection, with the quality of the curriculum and effectiveness of leadership and management in the subject rated as good.

Achievement in PSHE was rated as satisfactory.

The inspector said: 'Pupils are polite, courteous, play well together and show respect for the school and each other.

'Older pupils are developing good initiative and self-presentation skills.

'Pupils have a sound understanding of how to live healthy and safe lives.

'Older pupils feel well prepared for the next stage in their education and have enjoyed the enterprise activities they have undertaken.

'However, they have less knowledge about the world of work, and their understanding of personal finance and managing their pocket money is more limited.

'Knowledge of the dangers of drugs and alcohol is less well developed and variable because pupils do not learn in any detail about these aspects until Year 6.'

The quality of teaching in the subject was also rated as satisfactory.

'The high levels of care, guidance and support for pupils contribute significantly to pupil's achievement.

'Teachers know the pupils and their families well and act as good role models.

'Teachers are encouraging and manage behaviour well so that pupils behave well and enjoy learning.'

The curriculum was praised by inspectors.

'The curriculum gives pupils outstanding opportunities to practice and apply their PHSE learning in a range of enhancement activities.

'The PHSE curriculum is broad and coverage is balanced well between discrete lessons, cross-curricular themes, and assemblies.

Inspectors were positive about the chance for improvement: 'The school has an accurate understanding of its strengths and areas for improvement.'

In order to improve further, lessons covering drugs and alcohol education in greater depth, clear learning objectives and more formal assessment of knowledge and understanding were recommended.